Ford 4000 tractor help

[SirDick Diodenob esquire]

Its a 1965 model and probably on its last legs , need some advice how to get it started . Its not been used for a while and when I went to crank it over it was stuck solid so spent an hour inching it with the starter motor but now its turning over ok but still not firing up . Its a 3 cylinder diesel with cav injection pump , diesel looks ok with no water in it , drained both filters and bled them and bled the pump , also disconnected the injector pipes and turned it over , the pump is getting deisel into the injectors . Used easy start , its trying to start and loads of black smoke but dies as soon as I let go the starter . Dont know what to try next but need to get it going tomorrow somehow . Was thinking about removing the injectors and giving them a clean . I know the compression is probably well down but its been like that for years and still started with easystart , any ideas on what else to try ? Bump starting is not an option as its a digger with back hoe and shovel on the front and unstable at anything faster than about 3mph .

 

[tigler]

Is it getting enough air, as in blocked air filter ?

 

[the snooper]

remove the tools then tow it, towing will be the best option

 

[SirDick Diodenob esquire]

Yes , I have the air filter removed so can squirt the easystart in . I know its trying to start as getting plenty of black smoke after its been cranking for a while so its burning diesel somehow but it cant quite get going .

 

[SirDick Diodenob esquire]

remove the tools then tow it, towing will be the best option

I agree with you on that , I can get the front shovel off easy enough but the rear end is too much and thats were all the weight is , its so unstable it goes on 3 wheels even with weights on the front but its fine when jacked up in digging mode .

 

[the snooper]

if your only option is starter motor then as you mentioned remove the injectors and give them a good clean and make sure the fuel lines are well bled, maybe even use some fresh diesel

 

[dannyp]

if it has compession and diesel it will go ( eventualy )

check your valve clearances ( easy and soon tell if issues )

pull injectors out and pour a bit of ATF mixed with gunwash down the bores and let it soak for a bit,

hit the starter to clear the clys out, small squirt of oil don each and put the injectors back in, should go

easystart is nasty crap these engines really don't like it cracks the rings so you losse even more compression even know it split a piston

 

[Shedendman]

This may help
http://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/showthread.php?20332-Ford-4000-Wont-Start

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

I'm not sure if the 4000 has heater plugs or not, but get a rag soaked in paraffin or something flammable (thinners ect.) anr wrap it round a small piece of wood then light it and let it get going and hold it very close to the air intake near enough so it can pull flames/heat in but not s you are covering it. Failing that a gas blowtorch or a hot air gun.

 

[CKJDJK]

Have you tried leaving the injector pipes slightly loose while cranking. Any remaining air in the pipes will come out as bubbles. Still cranking, tighten them up one at a time.
Check also the filter often fitted in the fuel inlet to the injection pump. If partially blocked it reduces the chance of enough fuel getting through to bleed all the air out.

 

[Robotstar5]

Blowlamp on the inlet manifold? a trick my dad used on an old Land Rover

 

[p0689109]

Is the starter motor brushes up to scratch? I was having trouble starting my LDV, leaving it a couple of days and it gave the impression the battery was dud. Gave the battery a charge and away it went. As long as I used it daily ok. But if left to stand it played up. Bought a new battery but the problem still arose. Eventually I bit the bullet and removed the starter and found the brushes about finished. I got a replacement starter and the difference in starter speed is amazing. First time, every time. From the sound of your problem it sounds like the starter is turning the motor but not fast enough to enable the dieseling to reach self sustainability. It might be worth a try. My van has Ford gear fitted by the way.
Regards, MichaelT

 

[zzr1200]

get a rag soaked in paraffin or something flammable (thinners ect.) anr wrap it round a small piece of wood then light it and let it get going and hold it very close to the air intake near enough so it can pull flames/heat in but not s you are covering it.

As above, plus a high CCA well charged battery, most problems are cause by a bad battery or poor cable connection.

 

[madkayaker]

I have heard of people blowing O2 down the inlet from the gas axe but try at your own risk!

 

[Shox Dr]

Blowlamp on the inlet manifold? a trick my dad used on an old Land Rover

Anything but Easystart. For some reason once they've had a sniff of that stuff, they're hooked worse than a smackhead on crack

 

[penfold]

My experience of 4000s is that they don't bleed easily; the one I was using was run dry(not by me I hasten to add) and it took a couple of hours of tinkering to get it going. What do you mean by 'cleaning the injectors'? unless you have an injector tester and a set of internals for them(doubtless the spring and spindle will be past their best) you're best leaving that to a specialist. Have you had a compression test? Black smoke could suggest overfueling(knackered pump) or poor atomisation(bad injectors). Is there an airfilter and is it blocked?

 

[awemawson]

My 4000 has a heater thingy in the inlet manifold rather than heaters in the cylinder. If the heater thingy is fitted to yours check that its little tank has filled up with diesel from the injector spill pipe and that its element hasn't burnt out. When they work, a small coil heats up, allows diesel to flow in small quantities onto the heater, and squirts flames in the inlet manifold.

(You have to swing the battery out on its hinge to access the starting device tank)

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

Anything but Easystart. For some reason once they've had a sniff of that stuff, they're hooked worse than a smackhead on crack

Don't quote me on this but i think smack and crack are 2 different things




Try a set of jumpleads off a landrover/van/big car as well as the other battery but only crank for say 5 seconds in a minute so to not run the batterys down too much.

and heat is the key

 

[KemppiFrog]

You mention that the diesel looked OK. But how old is it? Friend had trouble on his old fishing boat. Stripped the injectors, pumps and lifted the heads on the Lister. The local fishing guys were looking from time to time. Finally an old codger came over and sniffed his tank. Told him to get rid of the fuel and buy fresh. Cured it, and he was well piffed of after all the work. Symptoms were no power, wouldn't rev and black smoke. Fuel was over two years old in a hot country.
KF

 

[p0689109]

Have you got it started yet? The waiting to hear is killing me!!!
Regards, Michael T